Timing device for balance-wheel units of watches and clocks



Oct. 1 4', 1930. c. B. GREENBERG 1,778,421

TIMING DEVICE FOR BALANCE WHEEL UNITS OF WATCHES AND CLOCKS Filed Feb. 10, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3 I 7 fihmlesflfireenher FEE-E- INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Oct. 14, 1930. 1 c. B. GREENBERG 1,778,421 2 v TIMING DEVICE FOR BALANCE WHEEL UNITS OF WATCHES AND CLOCKS Filed Feb. 10, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 26 I 25 if 32/78 '29 [110x12 5 El. Ereenl: 12$

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY/$15:

Patented Oct. 14, 1 930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES B. GREENBERG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Application filed February 10, 1928. Serial No. 258,449.

My invention relates to horological devices and more particularly refers to a timing device for balance-Wheel units of watches and clocks.

One object of my invention is to provide a means for accurately timing the oscillation of the hair-spring and balance-wheel of watches and clocks for the purpose of regulating same.

vide a device which will eliminate the excessive time required in regulating balancewheel units.

A still further object of my invention is to produce an accurate timing device with the View of reducing the time and expense of training special operators, and also, to increase the productive capacity of the operators of this particular type of device.

One valuable feature of my invention is to provide a mechanically synchronizing device wherein there are two separate indicating dials which clearly and accurately indicate the exact movement of the master move ment of a watch or clock and the trial movement of a Watch or clock.

Another valuable feature of my invention consists of the arrangement of the mechanism whereby the motion of the master movement of a watch or clock is clearly visible to the operator so that at all times the movement may be checked up as to its accuracy with any other standard time keeping instrument or with the standard of time as of lVashingtons Bureau of Standards, without'having to disturb any other part of the mechanism.

' Another further valuable feature of my invention resides in the novel and unique adjustable method of holding in position the hair-spring of a balance-wheel unit and vibrating it to synchronize with a master movement of a watch or clock.

Another further valuable feature of my invention consists of the adjustable means for holding positioned a balance-wheel staff in operative relation with a timing mechamsm. Another further valuable feature of my invention consists in the adjustable hairspring clamp and the rotary means for adjusting to the proper beat so that the balance-wheel unit may be synchronized with the master mechanism of a watch or clock.

It is well known in the art that there are devices for timing hair-springs and balancewheels for various movements but none of them contemplate the unique combination of novel elements or the specific organization of parts utilized in this particular device. With these and other objects in View my lnvention consists of the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, the par: ticular utility and application of the device and novel method of operating the same hereinafter referred to and described, claimed and substantially illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein similar numerals referred to like parts throughout the several views in which v Figure l is a plan view of the device partly broken away.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device with the top plate removed.

Figure 3 is a partial elevation and section taken on lines 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a partial elevation and section taken on line 4--4 of Figure l. I

,F'gure 5 is a plan of the underside of the top plate.

Figure 6 is an enlarged partial plan view of the device illustrating balance-wheel and hair-spring in position to vibrate, and clearly showing the indicators and pointers utilized in synchronizing the units.

The device is comprised of a base 1 with a flanged support 2. The interior of the said base is provided with cavities or sweepings 3, 4, and 5. The space 3 is adapted to hold any pointer 17 pivoted atgl8 upon the sweeping suitable movement 6 to which may preferably be attached a cross-wheel 7 which is upon and attached to an extension of the pivot of the esdevice. To this forl'r-lever-stafi" 9 directly under the fork-lever is attached" another fork-lever-15 engaging with a pin 16 upon the 4. And this movement may be wound by means of any suitable stem and'crown' such as' is shown in the drawing by 19. Directly opposite to the movement 6 is any suitable -mas ter movement 20 whichalso may wound by a similar means as 19 and indicated by number 21 in {the drawing. ,"This mastermovement isprovided with an extension to the center-wheel-shaft 22 which carries the hour hand 23 and minute hand 24 directly under which may be attached a dial 25 in any suitable manner. Theseaforesaid hands and dial preferably 'proj set into an opening-or sweep ing 26 in thetop plate 14, which is adapted to carry acrystal 27 or any other transparent medium. This master movement also has an extension to'the escape-wheel-shaft 28 which carries a cross-wheel 29. This cross-wheel 29 is located in close proximity to the crosswheel 7 so that the ends of the-points of these cross wheels will be in alignment with each other. Directly above the meeting of these said-points is "an opening or'sweeping 30 into which may be suitably attached a crystal orany "other transparent medium 31.- I

V The fork-lever-shaft 32 of the mastermovement 20 extends abovethe top plate of the movement and carries a-fork-lever 33 which engages with a 'pin34 uponthe pointer 35 pi'voted' at 36-uponthe sweeping 4." These pointers 17 and 35 are in closeproximity and alignment with each other, and directlyabove these pointers in the top plate 14 is an opening or recess37 similar to the opening 31 aforementioned which also" carriesa crystal or anytransparent medium of a similarcharactor as in 31. The movement 6 has a studpin 38 which extends above the top-plate of the said movement 5 carries a balance-point of any suitable character 39, which balancepoint projects into the opening 13 aforesaid through an opening 64 as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The balance-point 39 is engageable with a balance-wheel unit 40 and is adjustably held positioned and in oscillatable engagement with the fork-lever 10 aforesaid and guard-pin 11 aforementioned. f

f The adjustable means for holding the aforesaid unit40 is preferably comprised of an arm 41 pivoted. by. the pivot42 in the bracket 43 which is held to the upper plate 14 by cooperating with the stop 47 on the said arm.

To operate-this arm the button 48 is provided upon the extension 49 upon the sald arm. Onthe other end ofthe arm 41 1s a thumb-screw 50 adjustably engageable therein one end of which is provided with a pivoting means 51' so" that by adjusting this thumb-screw 50 to suit the balanceewheel unit 40 it may be maintained in operative position.

All balance-wheelunits are provided with hair-springs 52. The function of this device is tovibrate the said hair-spring so that the unit will synchronize with a. similar unit that is in the master movement -20. To synchronize this unit 40 there is provided a splitring' 53 which is adapted to engage'and be rotatably held by the slot. 54in the top plate 14. This split-ring 53 is-provided with anextension 55 into which fits a hair-spring. holding means 56 which is preferably "comprised of a standard 57 with an upturned end '58having integral thereof an upturned spring element 59 which is normally forced against the said part 58 so that the hairspring will he firmly held between these points .when placed therebetween. 7

To release the hair-spring there is a sliding handle 60 provided, which may beheld in operative position by means of the spring 61 or by any other suitable device. In using this device the split-ring 53 together withits attachments holding the hair-spring 52 may swing in any position desired, one .ofwhich' is shown in 62 in Figure 1.

The upper plate 14 may be held to the base 1 by means of the screws 63 or any other suitable means. V v

The underside of the upper plate 14 may be provided with a sweeping 65 allowing free movement for the parts 7, 29, 17, and 35.

Having thus described and illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to limit myselfto the exactfconstruction or arrangement of parts shown, since it is evidentthat modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

I claim H 1 1. A device for accurately vibrating and timing the balance-wheel units of time pieces having means for mounting a master movement of a watch orclockcontaining a master balance-wheel unit which oscillates accurately, and a secondary movement of a watch or clock directly opposite to the said master movement, the said secondary movement adapted to detachably and operably hold a balance-wheel unit adapted to be adjusted for synchronizing the same with thesaid unit in the master movement, each. of thesaid movements provided with a cross-wheel cooperating With each other to indicate the beat of the said balance-wheels.

2. A device for accurately vibrating and timing the balance-wheel units of time pieces having means for mounting a master movement of a watch or clock containing a master balance-wheel unit which oscillates accurately, and a secondary movement of a watch or clock directly opposite to the said secondary movement, the said secondary movement adapted to detachably hold a balance-wheel unit adapted to be adjusted for synchronizing the same with the said unit in the master movement, each of the said movements provided with a star-wheel cooperating with each other to indicate the beat of the said balance-wheels, and hair spring adjusting means adapted by adjustment to synchronize the beats of said star-wheels.

3. A device for accurately vibrating and timing the balance-wheel units of time pieces having means for mounting a master movement or" a watch or clock containing a master balance-wheel unit which oscillates accurately, and a secondary movement of a watch or clock directly opposite to the said master movement, the said secondary movement adapted to operate a balance-wheel unit for synchronizing the same with the said unit in the master movement, and each of the said movements provided with oscillating pointers cooperating with each other to indicate the beat of the said balance-wheel units.

4;. A device for accurately vibrating and timing the balance-wheel units of time pieces having means for mounting a master move ment of a watch or clock containing a master balance-wheel unit, the said master movement provided with a visible rotary beat-indicator, and an oscillating beat indicator and a visible means for checking the said master movement with another standardized movement adapted to detachably hold balance wheel units for adjustment without disturbing the said movement.

5. A device for accurately vibrating and timing the balance-wheel units of time pieces having means for cooperatively mounting a master movement of a watch or clock and a secondary movement of a watch or clock adapted to detachably hold a balance wheel unit for adjustment therein, the said movements provided with visible cooperating rotary beat-indicators.

6. A device for accurately vibrating and timing the balance-wheel units of time pieces having means for cooperatively mounting a master movement of a watch or clock and a secondary movement of a watch or clock, the said movements provided With visible oscillating beat-indicators.

7 A device'for accurately vibrating and timing the balance-wheel units of time pieces having means for cooperatively mounting a master movement of a watch or clock and a secondary movement of a watch or clock, the said movements provided with visible rotary beat-indicators and oscillating beat-indicators.

8. A device for accurately vibrating and timing the balance-wheel units of time pieces having means for cooperatively mounting a master movement of a watch or clock and a secondary movement of a watch or clock, the said secondary movement provided with an adjustable means for holding and positioning a balance-wheel unit, and an adjustable means for holding and positioning the hairspring of the said unit, and a rotary means for moving said hair spring to synchronize the said secondary movement with the said master movement. I,

9. A device for accurately vibrating and timing the balance-wheel units of time pieces having means for cooperatively mounting a master movement of a watch or clock and a secondary movement of a watch or clock, the said secondary movement provided with an adjustable means for holding and positioning a balance-wheel unit, and an adjustable means for holding and positioning the hairspring of the said unit, and a detachable rotary means for moving said hair spring to synchronize the said secondary movement with the said master movement.

10. A device for accurately vibrating and timing the balance-wheel units of time pieces having means for cooperatively mounting a master movement of a watch or clock and a secondary movement of a watch or clock, the said secondary movement provided with a manually movable adjustable means for holding and positioning a balance-wheel unit, and an adjustable means for holding and positioning the hair-spring of the said unit, and a detachable rotary means for moving said hair spring to synchronize the said secondary movement with the said master movement.

Dated at New York, in the county and State of New York, this ninth day of February, nineteen hundred and twenty-eight.

CHARLES B. GREENBERG. 

